IF/THEN® Collection Gifted to Boston’s Museum of Science

Content showcasing women in STEM to reach 80 million viewers by 2029
 

BOSTON and DALLAS – Lyda Hill Philanthropies and its initiative, IF/THEN®, announce the gift of the IF/THEN® Collection to the Museum of Science in Boston, MA on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated annually on February 11.

Launched in July of 2020, the IF/THEN® Collection is the world’s largest free digital library of photos and videos celebrating diverse, contemporary women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). A critical component of IF/THEN®’s mission is to inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers and create a culture shift in the perception of women in these fields. 

Valued at more than $20 million, the Collection provides access to more than 5,000 photos and videos showcasing a variety of STEM-related careers. It also includes segments from the award winning, live action series Mission Unstoppable and in-classroom resources such as posters and activity sheets. The National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) and the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) played critical roles to help launch and promote the Collection in partnership with IF/THEN®. Through these and other strategic distribution partnerships, content from the IF/THEN® Collection has reached an in-person audience of more than 15 million and has been used by more than 180 science museums across the country. 

After a competitive proposal process, Lyda Hill Philanthropies selected the Museum of Science to acquire the Collection and carry on the management of the platform which will remain a free resource to educators and for non-commercial use. Along with the Collection itself, the Museum received a $1,000,000 grant to further support the Collection’s growth and distribution. As one of the world’s largest science centers and New England’s most attended cultural institution, the Museum of Science will leverage the IF/THEN® Collection to advance its mission to inspire a lifelong love of science in everyone.  

"The Museum of Science is deeply honored to have been selected to carry on the incredible work of the IF/THEN® Collection,” said Museum of Science President Tim Ritchie. “We are excited to manage, grow, and distribute its content so that it continues to spark joy and a love for STEM in women and girls across the globe, helping fulfill the Museum’s vision of a world where science belongs to each of us for the good of all of us.” 

Through the Museum of Science, the IF/THEN ® Collection is projected to reach more than 80 million people over the next five years, expanding its global audience through digital-first distribution. In addition to increasing access, the Collection will continue to grow with new, social-first stories spotlighting extraordinary women in STEM. By leveraging the Museum’s expertise in engaging audiences in-museum, in-school, and online, distributing content across YouTube, Meta, Roblox, and Kahoot!, the Collection will connect with audiences where they already are, making women in STEM role models more visible and inspiring than ever. This expansion ensures that educators, students, and lifelong learners worldwide can engage with these powerful stories. 

“Five years ago, we launched the IF/THEN ® Collection to inspire the next generation of girls in STEM. The Museum of Science has proven it is the ideal institution to take the Collection to the next level and reach tens of millions more,” said Nicole Small, CEO of Lyda Hill Philanthropies and Co-Founder of the IF/THEN Initiative. “Working together with real, contemporary women in STEM as influential role models, we’ve built a movement, and we know the Collection will continue to change the narrative for women in STEM for years to come.” 

About Lyda Hill Philanthropies // IF/THEN

Founded in 2019, IF/THEN®, an initiative of Lyda Hill Philanthropies, seeks to further advance women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by empowering current innovators and inspiring the next generation of pioneers. Rooted in a firm belief that there is no better time to highlight positive and successful female professional role models, IF/THEN® is designed to activate a culture shift among young girls to open their eyes to STEM careers by: (1) funding and elevating women in STEM as role models, (2) convening cross-sector partners in entertainment, fashion, sports, business and academia to illuminate the importance of STEM everywhere, and (3) inspiring girls with better portrayals of women in STEM through media and learning experiences to pique their interest in STEM careers. Putting words to action, the initiative has launched an Emmy-nominated television series, Mission Unstoppable, created the IF/THEN® Collection, the world’s largest free resource library of photos and videos of diverse women in STEM, and launched the #IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit, a monumental installation of 120 life-sized 3D-printed statues of real women STEM professionals. IF/THEN® content has garnered hundreds of millions of views from women and girls furthering the approach that if you support women and girls in STEM, then you can change the world.  

Instagram, TikTok and Twitter: @IfThenSheCan